Variable-field dehydrator



Jam. 16, E923. 1,442,6@8 H. C. EDDY.

VARxABLE FxELo DEHYDRATOR. FILED JUNE 25. 1921.

Patented dan. 16, 1923.

NITED STATES Laaste earner centen.

HAROLD `C. EDDY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO )PETROLEUM RECTIFY- ING- COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATON or CALIFORNIA.

VARIABLE-FIELD DEEIYDRATOR.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD C. EDDY, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Variable-Field Dehydrator, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to dehydrators for petroleum emulsions. 1t.'is a well known fact that when a petroleum emulsion is subjected to an electric field under proper conditions that an agglomeration of the fine water particles takes place, these fine water particles coalescing into larger particles which can readily be settled out by gravity. In the practical operation of such dehydrators, I haveA found that often water collects in the electric field which tends to shortcircuit the electrodes and thereby interfere with the operation of the dehydrator. The principal object of my invention is to provide a dehydrator in which the length of the electric field is automatically increased whenever the current required by the dehydrator increases. 'i

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a section through a preferred form of dehydrator, and` Fig. 2 is a section on a plane represented by the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

In the form ofdehydrator shown in these drawings, 11 is a tank having a tight top 12 and a Vtight bottom 13. AOil is delivered to this tank by means of an inlet pipe 15 to which is rigidly secured a stationary electrode 16 which in the form' shown consists of a thin disc having a fiat horizontal upper surface. Suspended on a rod 20, directly above the stationary electrode 16, is a moving electrode 21 which consists of a flat plate 22 having concentric lips 23 formed thereon. The rod 20 is lsuspended on an insulator 25 which in turn is carried on a rod 26 which passes through a stufiing box 27 to the top 12 of the tank 11. The rod 20 is connected through a flexible conductor 28 with a rod 29 passing through an insulator 30vin thetop 12 of the`tank 11. The rod 26 is suspended on a cord 31 .carried over pulleys 32 and connectingto the end' of a lever 33 pivoted in a pasting'34. The other end of this lever is connectedjthrough a rod 35 with an armature 36 w'zhich is pivoted at 37 to the casting A coil 38 surrounds a core 39 which is so placed as to attract the rarmature -36 whenever the current in the coil 38 exceeds apre,- determined value. A counter-weight 40 is provided in the cord 31 for partially balancing the weight of the moving electrode 21.

A transformer having a low tension primary 52 and a high tension secondary 53 is provided, one side of the high tension primary being connected through awire 54C with the rod29, the other side being connected through a wire 55 with the tank 11. Current is supplied to the primary 52 through a wire 57 and through a wire 58 which is connected through the coil 38 which is in turn connected through a wire 59 with the primary 52. Cleaned oil is withdrawn from the top of the tank through a pipe 60, which is vented as shown at 61, and into which is connected a pipe 62, which relieves the top of the tank from any gas which may collect therein. `Water is withdrawn from the bottom of the tank through a pipe 65- which passes upwardly through the tank and connects into a pipe 66, which is vented as high potential between the electrodes 16 and 21 these electrodes being surrounded by emulsion. Current flows through the emulsion therebetween agglomerating the water particles which tend to settle by gravity as soon as they leave the electric field between the electrodes. Emulsion, being allowed to flow through the pipe 15, passes radially in all directions over the plate 16 and between the plates 16 and 21. The dehydrating action is continuous, the water particles settling out as soon as they leave the electric field and falling to the bottom from which they may be withdrawn through the pipe 65, the clean oil rising to the top and being withdrawn through the pipe 60. If, for any reason,'the electric field becomes too rich in water articles,A an excessive current flows which energizes the coil 38 to Such a degree that the armature 36 is attracted by the core 39, thus pulling downwardly on the outer end of the cord 31 and upwardly on the electrode 21. The upward movement of the electrode 21 increases the length of the electric field and tends to cut down the current. The coil 38 also acts as a reactance to prevent excessive flow of current. As soon as the current flowing in the electric field falls below a certain value, the armature 36 is released and the electrode 2l falls by its own weight which is not entirely compensated for by the counterweight 40. w

The concentric lips 23 act as concentrating points for the electric field. The emulsion flowing between these ridges and the plate 16 tends to elongate any established chain, the upper end of which is fixed to the ridge 23. This elongation continues until the chain is broken.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dehydrator, the combination of: two electrodes immersed in the emulsion to be treated; means for causing an electric current to iiow through the emulsion from one electrode to the other; and means for separating said electrodes whenever said current exceeds apredetermined value.

2. In a-dehydrator, the combination of: two electrodes immersed in the emulsion to be treated; means for causing an electric current to flow through the emulsion from one electrode to the other; and electro-responsive means for separating said electrodes whenever said current exceeds a predeter mined value.

3. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a

tank; an inlet pipe extending .upwardly in' Y said tank; a circular lower electrode secured on the upper end of said pipe andconcentric therewith; a circular upper electrode" .fsecured in parallel relationship above said lower electrode; and mea-nsfor impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.

4. In a dehydrater, the combination of: a

tank; an inlet pipe extending upwardly in said tank; a circular lower electrode secured on the upper end of said pipe and concentric therewith; a circular upper electrode secured in parallel relationship above said lower electrode; means for raising and lowering said upper electrode; and means for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.

5. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a tank; an inlet pipe extending upwardly in said tank; a circular lower electrode secured on the upper end of said pipe and concentric therewith; a circular upper electrode secured in parallel relationship above said lower electrode; a series of concentric lips formed on the lower surface of said upper electrojde; and means for impressing an electromotive force between said electrodes.

6. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a tank; an inlet pipe extending upwardly in said tank; a circular lower electrode secured on the upper end of said pipe and concentric therewith; a circular upper electrode secured in parallel relationship above said lower electrode; means for raising and lowering said upper electrode; a series of concentric lips formed on the lower surface of' said upper electrode; andmeans for impressing an electromotive force between said elec` trodes.

7. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a tank; a lower electrode in said tank; an upper electrode in said tank; means for introducing the emulsion to be treated to the space between said electrodes; means for withdrawing water from a space in said tank below said lower electrode; and means for withdrawing cleaned oil from a space in said tank above said upper electrode.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 17th day of June, 1921.

HAROLD C. EDDY. 

